Maine Chance Farms’ resident sire Silvano is officially South Africa’s Champion Sire for 2016-2017.
The son of Lomitas ended the racing season yesterday with his runners having earned R27 867 675 (according to the NHA) and is more than R8.7 million clear of runner up Captain Al on the general sires table.
Silvano, who was recording his second General Sires Title in this country-having been champion in 2013, enjoyed a phenomenal year this past season. His progeny won more black type races than any other sire this season.
Not only was Silvano represented by his fourth individual G1 Vodacom Durban July winner when his son Marinaresco beat paternal half-brother Al Sahem, the champion (whose previous July winners were Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal and Power King) was represented by 13 individual stakes winners in 2016-2017- who captured no fewer than 20 black type races.
Silvano, whose G1 winners Al Sahem, Nightingale and Marinaresco have all been nominated for Equus Awards, completely dominated major graded races in South Africa this past season.
His progeny landed no fewer than 13 graded features including the G1 Vodacom Durban July, G1 SA Derby, G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, G1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks, G2 Gauteng Guineas, G2 Daisy Guineas, G3 Track And Ball Derby, G3 Cup Trial, G3 Final Fling Stakes, G3 Algoa Cup and G3 Yellowwood Handicap last season.
Silvano fillies were particularly successful this season, and the sire had the 1-2 finishers in the 2017 G2 SA Oaks where Wind Chill beat paternal half-sister Oriental Oak by two and a half lengths.
Sire of young stallions Bold Silvano (sire of last season’s Kuda Sprint winner Bold Respect) and Vercingetorix, Silvano was also South Africa’s Leading Sire Of 3YOS for 2016-2017, with his runners earning in excess of R11.836 million.
Silvano- whose full-sister is the dam of last season’s G3 winner Horizon-is the sire of 72 stakes winners to date, including 20 G1 winners. He also made headlines recently overseas as the broodmare sire of Polish Oaks winner Furia.
South Africa’s champion sire of 2016-2017 has 12 lots on the 2017 National Two Year Old Sale.